Netflix drops Chadwick Boseman documentary trailer "Portrait of an Artist"

Netflix dropped the trailer for Chadwick Boseman documentary “Portrait of an Artist” on 13 April 2021. The streaming platform says that the documentary will be available for streaming for only 30 days. Its trailer teases contribution from the late Boseman’s close associates.

“I am Chadwick Boseman, I am an artist”, the trailer starts with what appears to be an interview the actor had before his demise. “People call me an actor. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself an actor. I would call myself an artist.”

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Next comes Viola Davies, Spike Lee, and others talking about his acting and passion in the 1min36sec clip. The documentary description on YouTube promises to provide insight into his artistry, it reads:

“Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Phylicia Rashad and more invite us into a conversation to explore Chadwick Boseman’s extraordinary commitment to his craft in an intimate look at the Oscar®-nominated actor’s artistry, and the acting process which informed his transformative performances.”

Netflix drops the complete film this weekend on 17 April, and you will only have until 17 May to see it on the platform before it is removed according to the original plan. Here is a list of contributors to the documentary obtained by Indie Wire:

1. Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Costar)
2. Danai Gurira (“Black Panther” Costar)
3. Brian Helgeland (“42” Director)
4. Reginald Hudlin (“Marshall” Director)
5. Aakomon “AJ” Jones (“Get On Up”/”Black Panther” Choreographer)
6. Woodie King Jr. (New Federal Theater Director)
7. Spike Lee (“Da 5 Bloods” Director)
8. Branford Marsalis (Composer, Arranger, Music Producer “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)
9. Andile Nebulane (Actor & “Black Panther” Dialect Coach)
10. Taylour Paige (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Costar)
11. Phylicia Rashad (Howard University Professor & Actor, Director, Producer)
12. Tate Taylor (“Get On Up” Director)
13. Glynn Turman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Costar)
14. George C. Wolfe (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Director)

Since he passed from colon cancer on 28 August 2020, after years of fighting the illness, Boseman has picked up several awards posthumously. These include the Screen Actors Guild Award, the Gotham Award, the Critic’s Choice Award, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He is also at the forefront for Best Actor at the 2020 Academy Awards as well.

While Chadwick Boseman has been active in the film and TV industry since as far back as 2003 (or even earlier) it was his role as T’Challa / Black Panther in Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” (2016) and subsequent reprisals that endeared him to the hearts of many.

His lead role in the 2018 standalone film “Black Panther” received far-reaching positive reactions, and it has earned him the moniker “The King”. Boseman’s demise was a worldwide incident that had shocked many because he never revealed that he had been diagnosed as far back as 2016. Notably, the actor had filmed his latest films, “Da 5 Bloods” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” while undergoing treatment that involved multiple surgeries and chemotherapy.

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He had married his longtime girlfriend Taylor Simone Ledward at a private ceremony in October 2019 and she has been picking up each award he won posthumously, dedicating them to him and sharing some of his personal statements and ideals. Surprisingly, Ledward does not feature on the list of credited participants for the “Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist” documentary by Netflix. 

We expect more works honouring the late actor to be released over the next couple of months as he deserves all the good legacy that can be built for him. His voice will also feature as T’Challa / Star-Lord in the upcoming American animated anthology series titled “What If…?”. The film explores what would happen if major moments from the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) occurred differently.